Opposing and Promoting Effects: Existing Intergroup Relations Shape the Divergent Effects of Common Threats on Intergroup Cooperation

Abstract

Global crises pose common threats to diverse groups regardless of their relations, necessitating collaborative responses. However, previous research has underscored the influence of threat attributes on intergroup cooperative responses to common threats, overlooking the role of existing intergroup relations. Following the social identity approach, we proposed that existing intergroup relations shape the divergent effects of common threats on intergroup cooperation. We tested this assumption using three preregistered studies (N = 1,440) through virtual intergroup (Studies 1 and 2) and real-world China–South Korea interactions (Study 3). Across crisis scenarios, we found that under negative relations, framing a crisis as resource threat hindered intergroup cooperation, whereas framing it as safety threat facilitated cooperation. Under positive relations, both threat frames facilitated cooperation. These findings deepen our understanding of the psychological processes underlying joint intergroup responses to global crises and offer practical insights for fostering cooperation.